The Federal Government has inaugurated a 1.2km hydraulic drainage project aimed at controlling erosion and mitigating the effects of flooding in the Idye River Basin, Makurdi.
The inauguration, held on Thursday, was overseen by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utserv, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
During the event, Prof. Utserv announced the government’s plans to construct dams nationwide to further combat flooding.
“Water is life; that is why in the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, we are building dams across the country and Benue is not left out.
“We are also providing water infrastructure across Nigeria and the President is building a Nigeria where everyone is involved,” he said.
The project, managed by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, N-HYPPADEC, reflects a commitment to addressing environmental challenges.
Senator Akume pointed out the project’s significance in reducing flood risks in Makurdi and emphasised the agency’s dedication to sustainable community development in Nigeria’s power-producing areas.
“This flood control project, which we are here to inaugurate today, is only one of the early steps taken by the commission towards reversing ecological degradation and promoting sustainable developments in riverine communities across the country,” Akume said.
The SGF also stated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for an industrialized and developed Nigeria, leveraging hydropower without compromising local communities.
N-HYPPADEC Managing Director, Abubakar Yelwa, lamented the extensive damage caused by flooding in Benue, particularly in 2022 when floods destroyed 18,349 houses and farmlands, displacing 134,797 people.
He said, “For years, the residents of Makurdi and other parts of Benue State have endured annual flooding that has consumed thousands of homes and farmlands, displacing numerous families.
“The 2022 Benue floods were even more tragic. In 2022, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency reported that the floods consumed about 18,349 houses and farmlands, displacing a total of 134,797 people.
“This staggering impact shows the urgent need to take decisive action to safeguard the communities and the livelihoods of people in the state.
“Successive governments at both federal and state levels have made frantic efforts to manage this crisis and mitigate its impact on the people and the environment.”
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, represented by Deputy Governor Sam Ode, acknowledged the state’s vulnerability to seasonal flooding and erosion due to its geographical and climatic conditions.
“These environmental challenges threaten not only our agricultural productivity but also the safety and livelihoods of our people.
“In this context, the Idye flood control/dyke project is not just a necessity but a beacon of hope for our countries,” Ode stated.
Nigerian government inaugurates 1.2km hydraulic drainage in Benue
